NRLW Saturday: Bulldogs v Sharks; Cowboys defeat Dragons

47th minute: It's a dream start for the Bulldogs, with the hosts rolling down the field on the back of the penalty before Ash Quinlan produced a superb cutout pass to send Elizabeth MacGregor over for the try in the corner. Cronulla will need to switch back on quickly if they are to get back into this game. Bulldogs 12 - Sharks 4

Kick-off: We are back for the second half, with Cronulla kicking off to restart play. The Bulldogs will look to continue grinding away their opponents and have received an early boost, with a penalty in the opening play from the kick-off. It was Alexis Tauaneai who earned the penalty, with the forward returning to the field after overcoming a knee injury picked up in the first half. Bulldogs 8 - Sharks 4.

Half-time: That is half-time in a gritty, hard-fought contest at Accor Stadium. The Bulldogs hold a four-point lead after 35 minutes of relentless defence that put the Sharks under plenty of pressure. Cronulla were slow out of the gates before finding their stride midway through the period but they could only manage the one try through Ellie Johnston. Bulldogs 8 - Sharks 4. 

34th minute: Canterbury continued to build pressure before the Sharks conceded a penalty straight in front. The Bulldogs looked not far away from breaking through but have instead opting to take the two and extend the lead to four on the stroke of half-time. Bulldogs 8 - Sharks 4. 

31st minute: We have a Bulldogs Captain's Challenge. The referee awarded Cronulla a penalty for contact in the air in a contest for a Tayla Preston bomb. Cassie Staples leapt for the ball, with Moana Courtenay running through to contest for it. Staples dropped the ball amid Courtenay's pressure. The Bunker has sided with the Bulldogs and it's a Canterbury scrum. Bulldogs 6 - Sharks 4.

24th minute: Sharks coach Tony Herman has turned to his bench to bring some energy after a slow start to the game and the changes have brought an immediate response. Manilita Takapautolo produced a dominant carry to earn a penalty and the visitors capitalised on the attacking field position when Ellie Johnston crashed over.

Some positive news for the Bulldogs, with early signs indicating Alexis Tauaneai will be able to return to the game with that knee injury. Bulldogs 6 - Sharks 4.

20th minute: The Bulldogs have been rewarded for their defensive pressure, with the Moana Courtenay forcing a loose pass and Simina Lokotui picking up the loose ball to run 50 metres and open the scoring. It's the 19-year-old's first try in the NRLW in just her sixth game. Bulldogs 6 - Sharks 0.

16th minute: A settling kick from Sharks halfback Chantay Kiria-Ratu has seen both sides catch a bit of a breather after an eventful opening 15 minutes. Both sides have generated attacking opportunities but the defence has thus far been too good and we remain scoreless. Bulldogs 0 - Sharks 0.

8th minute: We're off to the bunker with Monica Tagoai running a great line and looking to crash over. The centre looks to have been held up, with the referee sending it up no try. The Bunker has spot an indiscretion earlier in the play and Shannon Muru has been penalised for getting involved in the play by driving Tagoai into the in-goal. Bulldogs 0 - Sharks 0.

7th minute: The Bulldogs have started this contest with plenty of energy, with the hosts generating the better of the early opportunities. A well-placed grubber has earned a line drop-out and Canterbury have a fresh set to attack. There is a pause in proceedings, however, with Alexis Tauaneai picking up what looks to be a knee injury. The prop has hobbled from the field, with Holli Wheeler entering the fray. Bulldogs 0 - Sharks 0.

Kick-off: We are underway at Accor Stadium, with the Sharks looking to lock in a home semi-final in the opening week of the playoffs. Cronulla have won four on the trot and are full of confidence. The Bulldogs have endured a tough run but Tayla Preston headlines a crop of former Sharks looking to get one over their old team. Bulldogs 0 - Sharks 0.

Stat Attack

• The Bulldogs have conceded 100 points in their last two games.
• The Sharks have won three of their four away games this season.
• The Bulldogs’ line-up includes former Sharks Andie Robinson, Holli Wheeler and Tayla Preston.
• Sharks winger Georgia Ravics has scored 10 tries in her last eight games.
• The Bulldogs have lost two of their three games at Accor Stadium.

Late Mail

Bulldogs: A late forward pack reshuffle for the Bulldogs, with Hope Millard dropping out of the squad. Kalosipani Hopoate will start in the front row, while Holli Wheeler shifts to the interchange. Pauline Suli-Ruka comes in for Millard on the bench. Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau is the 18th player. 

Sharks: Just the one late change for the Sharks, with Tyla King coming into the interchange to make her return from a concussion. Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu shifts to 18th player as a result. Jaydika Tafua has been named to start at second row in her return from a finger injury, with Rhiannon Byers (back) sidelined. Caitlan Johnston-Green will miss the clash after fracturing her eye socket against the Knights. Stephanie Faulkner will start at prop, with Jacinta Carter added to the bench.

Dragons v Cowboys at WIN Stadium

Full-time: The siren has sounded on a record-breaking win for the Cowboys, with 42 points the most they have scored in an NRLW game. The 28-point winning margin is also the biggest in the team's history. North Queensland were under pressure after Teagan Berry scored in the opening minute of the second half, but bench utility Alisha Foord swung the contest when she was injected into the match and set the foundation for a dominant second half. The win secures the Cowboys a place in the top four and a home final in the opening week of the playoffs. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 42.

68th minute: Fran Goldthorpe has a double after producing some fancy footwork to step past Teagan Berry before wrongfooting Zali Hopkins to finish off long-range try. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 42. 

66th minute: The Dragons have launched a challenge, with the hosts arguing a player was obstructing when attempting to defend a kick chase. The Bunker quickly dismissed the appeal and North Queensland have a penalty for a hair pull by Nita Maynard-Perrin. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 36.

63rd minute: Some concern being shown for Ella Koster, who was involved in a head clash. The Dragons back rower initially played on, but the independent doctor has ordered her from the field for a HIA. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 36. 

58th minute: Alisha Foord scored a try moments ago and now she's set one up for Abigail Roache. The utility broke through the Dragons defensive line, with the hosts scrambling to deny a try. North Queensland immediately shifted left and Roache finished it off. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 36.

56th minute: North Queensland are starting to kick clear now, with the visitors turning the screws on their opponents. The pressure is starting to prove too much and Alisha Foord darted over from dummy half to extend her side's lead to three converted tries with 14 minutes to play. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 32. 

52nd minute: The Cowboys have extended their lead to 12, with Kirra Dibb slotting a penalty goal from straight in front. The attempt came after the Dragons conceded a penalty on the last tackle of the North Queensland attacking set. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 26.

45th minute: Now it's the Cowboys turn to turn defence into attack. Abigail Roache caught a bomb before offloading to Ebony Raftstrand-Smith, who ran 70 metres downfield. Teagan Berry made the try-saving tackle, but the Dragons were stretched and Kirra Dibb kept the ball alive on the subsequent play and sent Krystal Blackwell over for the try. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 24.

37th minute: Teagan Berry take a bow. The Dragons fullback was everywhere in the first half and it hasn't taken her long to make an impact in the second. Shenai Lendill produced a searching run towards the middle of the field before linking up with Berry, who burst through a gap and raced away from the cover defence to score. Dragons 14 - Cowboys 18.

Kick-off: We are back for the second half, with St George Illawarra having first use of the ball as they look to overcome an eight-point deficit. The Dragons looked dangerous in attack in the opening 35 minutes, but will have to tighten up defensively if they are to topple the Cowboys. Dragons 10 - Cowboys 18.

Half-time: That was a frenetic end to the first half, with the Cowboys having a chance to score late before the Dragons generated an opportunity of their own. North Queensland held firm to maintain an eight-point lead at the break. St George Illawarra will have the wind behind their backs in the second half and will look to strike first when play resumes. Dragons 10 - Cowboys 18.

 

28th minute: The Dragons have scored a miraculous 110-metre try to take the ball from their own dead-ball line all the way to the opposite end of the field. Fullback Teagan Berry was hoping to watch a kick go dead, but the ball stopped inches shy of the dead-ball line. Berry picked it up under heavy pressure, broke a tackle and raced downfield. The fullback offloaded to Tori Shipton, who was dragged down just shy of the try line. Shipton got a quick play the ball and Ella Koster darted over to finish off a spectacular try. Dragons 10 - Cowboys 18.

23rd minute: The Cowboys have found their stride now, with North Queensland taking advantage of another Dragons error. Emma Manzelmann continues to cause problems for the St George Illawarra defence and this time sends Lillian Yarrow over for the first try of her NRLW career. Dragons 6 - Cowboys 18.

19th minute: The two teams are going try for try at the moment, with some exciting attacking football on display at WIN Stadium. The Dragons put a kick dead to hand North Queensland a seven-tackle set and the visitors rolled down the field before Emma Manzelmann danced her way through some retreating defence to put her team back in front. Dragons 6 - Cowboys 12.

15th minute: Teagan Berry has been dangerous every time she's touched the ball this afternoon and she's broken through to get the Dragons on the board. The attacking opportunity came after Lillian Yarrow was put on report for a dangerous tackle on the fullback, with Berry brushing it off to score a few plays later. Dragons 6 - Cowboys 6.

10th minute: It's been an end-to-end start to this contest and it's the Cowboys who strike first. It didn't look that way initially, with the Dragons on the attack and looking destined to score in the corner. The hosts had numbers down the left edge, but Francesca Goldthorpe's desperation intercept attempt paid off and she raced 90 metres to score. Dragons 0 - Cowboys 6.

Kick-off: We are underway at WIN Stadium with the Dragons kicking off as they look to keep their slim finals hopes alive. The Cowboys have their sights on a home semi-final and need a victory to open up some breathing room ahead of the Knights on the ladder. Dragons 0 - Cowboys 0.

Late Mail

Dragons: Coach Nathan Cross has been forced into a late change, with Sara Sautia ruled out due to illness. Charlotte Basham comes on to the bench, with Tyra Ekepati the 18th player. Lock Hannah Southwell is straight back into the starting side in her return from suspension in the only change to the team that defeated the Warriors. Southwell's return sees Trinity Tauaneai shift to the bench, with Ahlivia Ingram the other new face on the interchange.

Cowboys: A couple of late changes for North Queensland as well, with Ebony Raftstrand-Smith replacing Ana Malupo on the wing. Malupo will be the 18th player. Ricky Henry has also rejigged his pack, with China Polata dropping out of the side. Essay Banu moves from the bench to the back row and Hailee-Jay Ormond-Maunsell comes on to the interchange. Abigail Roache has been named to return from a concussion suffered at training a couple of weeks ago, with the centre to replace Jakiya Whitfeld (shoulder). A big change in the halves, with Rosie Kelly named at halfback and Tahlulah Tillett moving to the reserves.